Structure of golf club storage case

ABSTRACT

A structure of golf club storage case includes first and second case portions that are openable/closable with respect to each other. The first and second case portions both form a receiving space, and comprise at least one rack and a plurality of receptacle seats arranged inside the receiving space. The rack forms a plurality of notches corresponding to the receptacle seats. Each receptacle seat forms an insertion space, which receives and retains therein at least two resilient clamp plates that oppose each other. To stow a golf club, a head of the golf club is inserted into the insertion space of one of the receptacle seats to be clamped and positioned by the two resilient clamp plates, while a shaft of the golf club is received in the respective notch of the rack so that the golf club is securely stowed in the first and second case portions.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a structure of golf clubstorage case, and more particularly to a structure of golf club storagecase that allows a plurality of golf clubs to be securely stowed infirst and second case portions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

To play a golf game, each player must carry a number of golf clubs thatare of different characteristics. All these golf clubs are oftencollected in a golf club bag for easy conveyance and storage. As shownin U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,763, a known structure of golf club bag isgenerally constituted by a hollow cylindrical open bag body. Further,separation boards may be additionally arranged inside the hollowcylindrical bag body to separate the golf clubs stowed therein.

Golf clubs stowed in the known golf club bag are placed into the golfclub bag by inserting the grip of each club into the golf club bag in aninverse manner and the golf club is partially exposed outside the golfclub bag, whereby dust and humidity contained in the atmosphere mayeasily attach to the golf club, causing staining and rusting of the golfclub. Further, the interior spaces of the golf club bag that areseparated by the separation boards are often very large in size, makingit possible for the golf clubs to vibrate inside the golf club bag,whereby in moving the golf club bag, the golf clubs placed in the bagmay collide and hit each other, leading to undesired damages of theshafts and the heads of the golf clubs. Further, the known golf club bagis an open bag and external dusts may get accumulated in or attaching tothe interior and bottom of the golf club bag. Further, the known golfclub bag is generally not detachable, making it possible to easily causecontamination in the interior and bottom of the golf club bag.

Manufacturers developed a protection cover to be fit to the club head ofa golf club, so that with the protection cover fit to each golf club atthe site of the club head, cushioning can be realized against mutualcollision between the club heads of the golf clubs and thus keeping theclub heads of the golf clubs from being damaged. However, the protectioncover of golf club is provided for covering the club head of golf club,rather than enclosing the shaft of golf club, so that it is not possibleto serve as means for keeping the golf clubs from shaking and vibration.Thus, the shafts of the golf clubs are still easily subjected tostaining and rusting and due to being easy to shake and collide eachother, the shafts of the golf clubs are still easy to get damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a structureof golf club storage case, comprising a first case portion and a secondcase portion that are openable/closable with respect to each other. Thefirst case portion and the second case portion each form an openreceiving space, in which at least one rack and a plurality ofreceptacle seats are formed. The rack forms a plurality of notches, thenotches corresponding to the receptacle seats. Each of the receptacleseats forms an insertion space, and the insertion space receives andretains therein at least two resilient clamp plates therein. As such, instowing a golf club, the golf club can be placed into the receivingspace of the first case portion or the second case portion in a regularorientation to have a club head of the golf club inserted in to theinsertion space of the corresponding receptacle seat and securelyclamped and positioned by the two resilient clamp plates, while a shaftof the golf club is positioned in the respective notch of the rack, sothat each golf club can be securely stowed in the first case portion orthe second case portion to protect the golf club from damages caused bymutually abrading each other due to shaking and also preventing the golfclub from exposing to the atmosphere that leads to staining and rustingof the golf club.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introductionto the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects ofthe present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detaileddescription of the invention and the claims should be read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specificationand drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similarparts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will becomemanifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to thedetailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which apreferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of thepresent invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf clubs storage case according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a first application embodimentof the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a second applicationembodiment of the golf club storage case according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a third application embodimentof the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth applicationembodiment of the golf club storage case according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a fifth application embodimentof the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a sixth application embodimentof the golf club storage case according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a golf club storage case according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the golf club storage case ofsaid another embodiment of the present invention in a use condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following description provides aconvenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made inthe function and arrangement of the elements described without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the present invention provides astructure of golf club storage case, which comprises a first caseportion 1 and a second case portion 2. The first case portion 1 and thesecond case portion 2 are openable/closable with respect to each other.

The first case portion 1 forms an open receiving space 10. The firstcase portion 1 has one side forming a connection portion 11 and anopposite side forming a mating portion 12. The receiving space 10comprises at least one rack 13 and a plurality of receptacle seats 14formed therein. The rack 13 forms a plurality of notches 131, and thenotches 131 correspond to the receptacle seats 14. Each receptacle seat14 forms an insertion space 140, and at least two resilient clamp plates141 are arranged in the insertion space 140 to oppose each other.Further, the first case portion 1 comprises a removable top cover 15.The top cover 15 comprises a first coupling section 151 and the firstcase portion 1 comprises a second coupling section 16, whereby thesecond coupling section 16 of the first case portion 1 and the firstcoupling section 151 of the top cover 15 are combinable with each otherand the first coupling section 151 and the second coupling section 16can be fixed together through fitting, adhesives, or locking. In anembodiment of the present invention, the first coupling section 151 ofthe top cover 15 comprises a recess, while the second coupling section16 of the first case portion 1 comprises a projection, whereby the firstcoupling section 151 and the second coupling section 16 may be combinedtogether through fitting. Further, the first case portion 1 forms atleast one first storage space 17 in the top cover 15 and the storagespace 17 has an opening to which a lid 171 (see FIG. 7) is attached.

The second case portion 2 is openable/closable with respect to the firstcase portion 1 and forms an open receiving space 20. The second caseportion 2 has one side forming a connection portion 21 and an oppositeside forming a mating portion 22, whereby the connection portion 21 ofthe second case portion 2 is connected to the connection portion 11 ofthe first case portion 1 and the mating portion 22 of the second caseportion 2 is mateable and engageable with the mating portion 12 of thefirst case portion 1. Further, the second case portion 2 comprises atleast one rack 23 and a plurality of receptacle seats 24 formed in thereceiving space 20 with the receptacle seats 24 being arranged toalternate the receptacle seats 11 of the first case portion 1. The rack23 forms a plurality of notches 231, and the notches 231 correspond tothe receptacle seats 24. Each receptacle seat 24 forms an insertionspace 240, and at least two resilient clamp plates 241 are arranged inthe insertion space 240 to oppose each other. The second case portion 2comprises a removable top cover 25. The top cover 25 comprises a firstcoupling section 251 and the second case portion 2 comprises a secondcoupling section 26, whereby the second coupling section 26 of thesecond case portion 2 and the first coupling section 251 of the topcover 25 are combinable with each other and the first coupling section251 and the second coupling section 26 can be fixed together throughfitting, adhesives, and locking. In an embodiment of the presentinvention, the first coupling section 251 of the top cover 25 comprisesa recess, while the second coupling section 26 of the second caseportion 2 comprises a projection, whereby the first coupling section 251and the second coupling section 26 may be combined together throughfitting. Further, the second case portion 2 forms at least one secondstorage space 27 in the receiving space 20 and the storage space 27 hasan opening to which a lid 271 is attached.

The lids 171, 271 of the first storage space 17 and the second storagespace 27 comprise an opening/closing mechanism. In an embodiment of thepresent invention (see FIG. 7), the lids 171, 271 of the first storagespace 17 and the second storage space 27 can realize the opening/closingmechanism through a zipper, so that a user can place golf balls, golfshoes, gloves, and the likes in the first storage space 17 and thesecond storage space 27.

The sides of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 thatare adjacent to the mating portions 12, 22 are provided with at leasttwo locking members 3, so that the mating portions 12, 22 of the firstcase portion 1 and the second case portion 2 can be securely jointed. Inan embodiment of the present invention, the locking member 3 comprisesat least two female buckling elements 31 and at least three malebuckling elements 32, wherein one female buckling element 31 is arrangedat one side of the mating portion 12 of the first case portion 1 andlocated to correspond to the joint seam between the first couplingsection 15 and the second coupling section 16, another female bucklingelement 31 is arranged on the side of the mating portion 12 of the firstcase portion 1 and is distant from the second coupling section 16. Twoof the male buckling elements 32 are arranged at one side of the matingportion 22 of the second case portion 2 and respectively located atopposite sides of the joint seam between the first coupling section 251and the second coupling section 26 and the remaining male bucklingelement 32 is arranged at the side of the mating portion 22 of thesecond case portion 2 and is distant from the second coupling section26. As such, with the female buckling elements 31 arranged on the firstcase portion 1 being engageable with the male buckling elements 32arranged on the second case portion 2, the mating portions 12, 22 of thefirst case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are securely jointedand closed and the top covers 15, 25 of the first case portion 1 and thesecond case portion 2 are kept from undesired separation.

At least two cavities 28 are defined in an outside surface of the secondcase portion 2 and located adjacent to a bottom thereof. The cavities 28receive therein casters 4, and the casters 4 comprise swivelingmechanisms. The casters 4, when not in use, can be stowed in thecavities 28. When the casters 4 are used, the casters 4 are swiveledoutside the cavities 28 to allow a user to easily tow and move the firstcase portion 1 and the second case portion 2. Further, bottoms of thefirst case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are respectivelyprovided with a plurality of blocks 5, which are in the form of postsand hemispheres, whereby when the first case portion 1 and the secondcase portion 2 are positioned in an upright manner, the blocks 5 mayserve as a buffer for keeping the bottoms of the first case portion 1and the second case portion 2 from abrading or hitting the ground toinduce damage.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, to stow golf clubs 30, the golf clubs 30 arepositioned into the receiving space 10, 20 of the first case portion 1or the second case portion 2 in a normal orientation, so that club headsof the golf clubs 30 are positionable into the insertion spaces 140 ofthe receptacle seats 14. The club heads of the golf clubs 30 received inthe insertion spaces 140 are each clamped by two resilient clamp plates141 thereby properly positioned. Shafts of the golf clubs 30 are thenfit into the corresponding notches 131 of the rack 13 for positioning,whereby each golf club 30 can be securely stowed in the first caseportion 1 or the second case portion 2, protecting the golf clubs 30from damages caused by mutually abrading each other due to shaking. Thefirst case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 may then be closed toeach other to have the golf clubs 30 housed in the first case portion 1and the second case portion 2 (see FIG. 2), keeping the golf clubs 30from exposing to the atmosphere that leads to staining and rusting ofthe golf clubs 30. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the top covers 15, 25 ofthe first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 can be removed toallow a user to efficiently retrieve and change a golf club 30 ofdifferent type in playing a golf game.

Referring to FIG. 6, the present invention further comprises a handle 6that is mounted to an outside surface of the second case portion 2 orone side of the mating portion 22 of the second case portion 2 to allowa user to tow the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 inan upright manner or to hand carry in a horizontal fashion. Further, theside of the mating portion 22 of the first case portion 1 mayadditionally be provided with at least two coupling loops 8 and mayfurther be pivotally coupled to rings 9. The coupling loops 8 functionsto mount a carrying strap 40 that allows a user to shoulder carry thefirst case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 for transportation.The rings 9 are provided with swiveling mechanisms that allows a user tofit an umbrella 50 into the rings 9 for stowing the umbrella 50 outsidethe first case portion 1.

Referring to FIG. 7, the present invention is further structured to forma slot 18 in an outside surface of the first case portion 1 and asupport bar 7 is pivotally mounted inside the slot 18, whereby when thefirst case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 are positioned in anupright fashion, the support bar 7 can be expanded for support, therebypreventing the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 frombeing accidentally tipped over.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 8, and 9, the structure of golf club storage caseaccording to the present invention further comprise a shade 80. Thefirst case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 have top ends thatform openings, so that the receiving spaces 10, 20 of the first caseportion 1 and the second case portion 2 are exposed. The first caseportion 1 and the second case portion 2 each comprise at least oneextension rail 60 arranged in a longitudinal direction at a bottom ofthe receiving space 10, 20 thereof. The extension rail 60 is coupled toa shielding plate 70, whereby the shielding plates 70 received in thereceiving spaces 10, 20 of the first case portion 1 and the second caseportion 2 are movable up and down in the longitudinal direction. Thus,by pulling upward and fixing the shielding plates 70 that are receivedin the receiving spaces 10, 20 of the first case portion 1 and thesecond case portion 2, the shielding plates 70 are moved upward and getoutside the receiving spaces 10, 20 of the first case portion 1 and thesecond case portion 2. The shade 80 is then set to enclose the twoshielding plates 70, thereby covering the openings formed in the topends of the first case portion 1 and the second case portion 2 and thusmaking the golf clubs 30 housed and stowed in the first case portion 1and the second case portion 2 (see FIG. 9) to keep the golf clubs 30from being exposed to the atmosphere that leads to staining and rustingof the golf clubs 30. In an embodiment of the present invention, thefirst case portion 1 comprises at least one hook 19 arranged on an outerside of the connection portion 11 and the mating portion 12. The secondcase portion 2 comprises at least one hook 29 arranged on an outer sideof the connection portion 21 and the mating portion 22. Further, theshade 80 is combined with a storage device 90 and the storage device 90comprises, in the interior space thereof, a reel with returningmechanism that is coupled to the shade 80, whereby the shade 80 isreceived in the storage device 90 in an extendible and retractablemanner. An end of the shade 80 is provided with at least one couplingring 801, and the storage device 90 is provided with coupling rings 901.The coupling rings 901 of the storage device 90 are set to engage andthus be fixed to the hooks 19, 29 of the first case portion 1 and thesecond case portion 2 at one side, and then, the shade 80 is extended toenclose the two shielding plates 70 with the coupling rings 801 of theshade 80 engaging and being fixed to the hooks 19, 29 of the first caseportion 1 and the second case portion 2 at an opposite side. Thus, theshade 80 covers the openings formed in the top ends of the first caseportion 1 and the second case portion 2, allowing the golf clubs 30 tobe housed and stowed inside the first case portion 1 and the second caseportion 2.

In summary, the technical features of the present invention comprisefirst case portion 1 and second case portion 2 that areopenable/closable with respect to each other, and the first case portion1 and the second case portion 2 have open receiving spaces 10, 20 withat least one rack 13, 23 and a plurality of receptacle seats 14, 24arranged in the receiving spaces 10, 20 to allow club heads golf clubs30 to be inserted into the receptacle seats 14, 24 for positioning andshafts of the golf clubs 30 received in the racks 13,23 for positioning,thereby making each golf club 30 securely stowed in the first caseportion 1 and the second case portion 2, keeping the golf clubs 30 fromabrading and damaging each other due to shaking, and keeping the stowedgolf clubs 30 from exposing to the atmosphere that leads to staining andrusting of the golf clubs 30, and also allowing a user not to purchaseprotection covers for the golf clubs 30 that leads to an increase ofexpense.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find a useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A golf club storage case, which is adapted to receive andstow therein a plurality of golf clubs, the golf club storage casecomprising: a first case portion, which forms an open receiving space,the first case portion having one side forming a connection portion andan opposite side forming a mating portion, the first case portioncomprising a plurality of receptacle seats formed inside the receivingspace, each of the receptacle seats forming an insertion space; and asecond case portion, which is openable/closable with respect to thefirst case portion, the second case portion forming an open receivingspace, the second case portion having one side forming a connectionportion and an opposite side forming a mating portion, the connectionportion of the second case portion and the connection portion of thefirst case portion being connected to each other, the mating portion ofthe second case portion and the mating portion of the first case portionbeing mateable and engageable with each other.
 2. The golf club storagecase according to claim 1, wherein the second case portion comprising aplurality of receptacle seats formed inside the receiving space thereof,each of the receptacle seats forming an insertion space, the receptacleseats of the second case portion and the receptacle seats of the firstcase portion being arranged to alternate each other, the first caseportion and the second case portion each comprising at least one rackformed inside the receiving space thereof, the rack forming a pluralityof notches.
 3. The golf club storage case according to claim 2, whereinthe first case portion and the second case portion each comprise atleast two resilient clamp plates that are arranged in the insertionspace of each of the receptacle seats, the two resilient clamp platesbeing arranged to oppose each other.
 4. The golf club storage caseaccording to claim 1, wherein the first case portion and the second caseportion each comprise a removable top cover, the top cover comprising afirst coupling section, the first case portion and the second caseportion each comprising a second coupling section, the second couplingsection of the first case portion and the first coupling section of thetop cover associated therewith being combinable with each other, thesecond coupling section of the second case portion and the firstcoupling section of the top cover associated therewith being combinablewith each other, the first case portion forming at least one firststorage space in the top cover thereof and the storage space having anopening to which a lid is attached.
 5. The golf club storage caseaccording to claim 1, wherein the first case portion and the second caseportion having sides adjacent to the mating portions and being providedwith at least two locking members, the first case portion and the secondcase portion having bottoms to which a plurality of blocks is mounted.6. The golf club storage case according to claim 1, wherein the secondcase portion has an outside surface forming at least two cavities atlocations adjacent to a bottom thereof, the cavities receiving thereincasters, the casters comprising swiveling mechanisms.
 7. The golf clubstorage case according to claim 1, wherein the first case portion isprovided with at least two coupling loops on a side of the matingportion to which rings pivotally coupled, a handle being mounted to anoutside surface of the second case portion or one side of the matingportion of the second case portion.
 8. The golf club storage caseaccording to claim 1, wherein the first case portion has an outsidesurface forming a slot and a support bar is pivotally mounted inside theslot.
 9. The golf club storage case according to claim 1 furthercomprising a shade, the first case portion and the second case portionhaving top ends that form openings, the first case portion and thesecond case portion each comprising at least one extension rail arrangedat a bottom of the receiving space, the extension rail being coupled toa shielding plate, the shielding plate being movable up and down in alongitudinal direction inside the receiving space of the first caseportion and the second case portion; the shielding plate being movableupwards to get outside the receiving spaces of the first case portionand the second case portion, the shade being then set to enclose the twoshielding plates and thus covering the openings formed in the top endsof the first case portion and the second case portion.